Editing Sangheili (language)

{{Status|Canon}}

{{Quote|Their language doesn't translate in a literal manner, and each word has multiple meanings.|[[Cortana]]{{Ref/Novel|Id=HFSC16|FS|Chapter=16}}}}

[[File:Sunaion Triangle symbols.png|thumb|350px|Sangheili scripture on [[Sunaion]].]]

'''Sangheili''' describes multiple dialects of a language spoken by the [[Sangheili|species of the same name]]. Though the [[:Category:Covenant species|member species]] of the [[Covenant]] had their own unique languages, an advanced dialect of Sangheili, known as '''basic Sangheili''',{{Ref/Comic|Id=HTFSHP|HTFS|Story=Hunting Party}} came to serve as the [[Wikipedia:Lingua franca|''lingua franca'']] throughout the entire Covenant Empire.{{Ref/Site|Id=HWUFCovenant|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/factions/covenant|Site=Halo Waypoint|Section=Universe, Factions|Page=Covenant|D=21|M=1|Y=2021|LocalArchive=https://archives.halopedia.org/waypoint/www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/factions/covenant.html}} And as such, many names of member species are derived from the Sangheili.<ref name="Ghost">'''[[Halo: Ghosts of Onyx]]'''</ref> Even after the [[Great Schism|fragmentation]] of the Covenant, many former client species of the Covenant continue to use the Sangheili language in lieu of their native tongues; Sangheili has even replaced their native language for many.{{Ref/Reuse|HWUFCovenant}} A specific trade pidgin also existed within the [[Covenant fringe]].{{Ref/Site|Id=HWUCAxl|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/characters/axl|Site=Halo Waypoint|Section=Universe, Characters|Page=Axl|D=21|M=1|Y=2021|LocalArchive=https://archives.halopedia.org/waypoint/www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/characters/axl.html}}

Text, or writing, in Sangheili appears to be mostly triangle shapes and composed almost completely of equilateral triangles. The triangular characters have been seen oriented both in the horizontal left-to-right direction and in a vertical right-to-left direction.<ref name="fud1">'''[[Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn]]''', ''Part 1''</ref>

Though originating with the Sangheili, an advanced dialect of their language has come to be the Covenant ''lingua franca'', used to connect the different races and species.{{Ref/Reuse|HWUFCovenant}} Curiously, in several instances of Forerunner-related terminology, the Sangheili appear to use the English translations of the original Forerunner terms, as for "[[Forerunner]]", "[[Requiem]]", "[[Reclaimer]]", "[[Ur-Didact|Didact]]", and "[[Librarian]]".<ref>'''Halo 4''', ''Spartan Ops''</ref>{{Ref/Note|It should be noted that in ''Spartan Ops'' subtitles, these terms are phonetically transliterated from Sangheili speech (e.g.  "Dieduckt", "Liebuh-Rahrian", "Reecleymah") rather than using their proper spellings.}} During the [[San'Shyuum-Sangheili War]], the [[San'Shyuum]] obtained a comprehensive understanding of the Sangheili language by brutally torturing and interrogating [[Prisoner of war|prisoners of war]]. After establishing peace with the Sangheili, the San'Shyuum of the fledgling Covenant relied on [[translation software]] built into their [[anti-gravity chair]]s to understand the language.<ref>'''[[Halo: Broken Circle]]''', ''page 22'' (Google Play edition)</ref> The [[Ussans]] developed in isolation from other Sangheili, and their language evolved into a different form of the Sangheili dialect. It possessed similarities to Old Sangheili,<ref>'''Halo: Broken Circle''', ''page 276'' (Google Play edition)</ref> but the language developed into a new dialect that could not be readily understood by the "average" Sangheili.<ref>'''Halo: Broken Circle''', ''page 204'' (Google Play edition)</ref>

The Sangheili language includes 8 main vowels (/ä/, /ɑ/, /i/, /ɪ/, /e̞/, /ɔ/, /o/ and /u/) and 18 main consonants (/s/, /z/, /ʂ/, /ʐ/, /q/, /ɢ/, /ʈ/, /ɖ/, /f/, /b̪/, /ħ/, /j/, /ɰ^β/, /ɱ/, /ɳ/, /ɴ/, /ɻ/ and /ʔ/). Three more consonants also appear in words borrowed from other Sangheili dialects or alien languages. These are /p̪/, /ɺ^ɽ~ɭ/ and /ʋ/. In certain instances, the sounds /o̞/, /ɕ/, /ʑ/, /w/ and /ɽ/ can appear as allophones of /ɔ/, /ʂ/, /ʐ/, /ɰ^β/ and /ɻ/ respectively. Furthermore, /ɯ^β/ and /ʊ/ are allophones of /u/ while /ə/ can serve as allophone of /ä/ and /e̞/ when those two sounds are weakened.

 

 

In order to phonetically transcribe Sangheili, 343 Industries uses the following transliteration system:

Ancient words, names, and words of extinct or other Sangheili languages.

:'''Leevrukah''' - [[Guardian]]{{Ref/NoteReuse|phonetic}}<ref>'''[[Hunt the Truth Season 2]]''', ''Episode 04: JACKALS''</ref>

:'''Wort''' - Go

:'''[[Kaidon|Kaydon]]''' - Clan leader<ref name="Cole">'''[[Halo: The Cole Protocol]]'''</ref>

:'''Dohmoh'Eenngahnehnn''' - [[Human]]<ref name="H4T1">'''[[Halo 4]]''' - ''[[Terminal (Halo 4)|Terminal 1]]''</ref>{{Ref/Note|Id=phonetic|This is a phonetic spelling. The proper rendering has not been confirmed in canon.}}

:'''Dohmoh''' - Human<ref name="H4T1">'''[[Halo 4]]''' - ''[[Terminal (Halo 4)|Terminal 1]]''</ref>{{Ref/Note|Id=phonetic|This is a phonetic spelling. The proper rendering has not been confirmed in canon.}}

:'''Eenngahnehnn''' - Human<ref name="H4T1">'''[[Halo 4]]''' - ''[[Terminal (Halo 4)|Terminal 1]]''</ref>{{Ref/Note|Id=phonetic|This is a phonetic spelling. The proper rendering has not been confirmed in canon.}}

:'''Nou''' - Cognate with English "no", as a negative response<ref name="H4T1">'''[[Halo 4]]''' - ''[[Terminal (Halo 4)|Terminal 1]]''</ref>

:'''Ey''' - Cognate with English "''No''" and "''not'',<ref name="H4T1">'''[[Halo 4]]''' - ''[[Terminal (Halo 4)|Terminal 1]]''</ref>{{Ref/NoteReuse|phonetic}}<ref>'''[[Spartan Ops]]''', ''[[Catherine|E3 Catherine]]''</ref> also used as an interjection<ref>[[Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn]]</ref>

:'''Eedah-yook/eedah-ookoh/eedook-yoo''' - Brother{{Ref/NoteReuse|phonetic}}

:'''Ehnteh-yookoh''' - Loyal friend{{Ref/NoteReuse|phonetic}}'''[[Halo 4]]''' - ''[[Terminal (Halo 4)|Terminal 1]]''

:'''Me-hoh''' - refers to a group in which the speaker is a part of.<ref name="H4T1">'''[[Halo 4]]''' - ''[[Terminal (Halo 4)|Terminal 1]]''</ref>{{Ref/NoteReuse|phonetic}}

:'''Tahshee''' - refers to a third group, which the speaker is not part of. Also means different.<ref name="H4T1">'''[[Halo 4]]''' - ''[[Terminal (Halo 4)|Terminal 1]]''</ref>{{Ref/NoteReuse|phonetic}}

:'''Kuhtahshee''' - refers to something that is very different, like an alien or in some cases human.<ref name="H4T1">'''[[Halo 4]]''' - ''[[Terminal (Halo 4)|Terminal 1]]''</ref>{{Ref/NoteReuse|phonetic}}

:'''Kohyahkuhmoh''' - Vector<ref name="H4T1">'''[[Halo 4]]''' - ''[[Terminal (Halo 4)|Terminal 1]]''</ref>{{Ref/NoteReuse|phonetic}}

:'''Mahgahchee''' - Approach<ref name="H4T1">'''[[Halo 4]]''' - ''[[Terminal (Halo 4)|Terminal 1]]''</ref>{{Ref/NoteReuse|phonetic}}

:'''Eennah''' - Like/who/whoever Meaning varies significantly depending on context.{{Ref/NoteReuse|phonetic}}

:'''Reh''' - make/made{{Ref/NoteReuse|phonetic}}

:'''Deedah''' - gift {{Ref/NoteReuse|phonetic}}'''[[Spartan Ops]]''', ''[[Catherine|E3 Catherine]]''

:'''Kooay''' - Bring (command form){{Ref/NoteReuse|phonetic}}'''[[Spartan Ops]]''', ''[[Catherine|E3 Catherine]]''

:'''gahkaboonoh''' - travel/go at

:'''Gah''' - It, this, He, him

:'''Woh''' - He, him

:'''Jah''' - I, me, we

:'''Wah''' - You (2nd person)

:'''Se''' - away from/from {{Ref/NoteReuse|phonetic}}

:'''Rugee-ee''' - Rise (command form){{Ref/NoteReuse|phonetic}}

:'''Runah-udoh''' - Progress{{Ref/NoteReuse|phonetic}}

:'''Eedahyoh-ahyoh''' - After him (command form){{Ref/NoteReuse|phonetic}}

:'''Jahn-rayn-chay''' - Intruder{{Ref/NoteReuse|phonetic}}

:'''Rohyahyah''' - Faster (command form){{Ref/NoteReuse|phonetic}}

:'''Gah raykoh''' - This is{{Ref/NoteReuse|phonetic}}

:'''Kahnoh''' - Treasure{{Ref/NoteReuse|phonetic}}'''[[Halo 4]]''' - ''[[Terminal (Halo 4)|Terminal 1]]''

:'''Ree-oh''' - will/will be, ~is, are{{Ref/NoteReuse|phonetic}}'''[[Halo 4]]''' - ''[[Terminal (Halo 4)|Terminal 1]]''

:'''Cheennsay''' - Warrior{{Ref/NoteReuse|phonetic}}

:'''Cheenoh''' - Life{{Ref/NoteReuse|phonetic}}'''[[Spartan Ops]]''', ''[[Catherine|E3 Catherine]]''

:'''Keeoh-eesay''' - Death{{Ref/NoteReuse|phonetic}}

:'''Geeoh neechuh''' - Forever vigilant{{Ref/NoteReuse|phonetic}}

:'''Igzuk''' - An insulting descriptor of some kind.{{Ref/Novel|HO|Chapter=18}}

—Nnse-kooree-koocha nee-ey-mawoo.

Nnkahchee kahnohmoh keenoh ruh-ehnahsheewah cheeruh-eh tayruh-ah. Wahshahteh rohneeahkeh nohkoh wahnahkohroh neeoh-yohnoh sahgahkay. Tahgee wahkeetoh ruhnehdah-ee nnkah-ee tahgee tahruh-yah. Promethean wahzeguhkah kahjee mah.

Cheenoh-ee. Keeoh-eesay. Geeohneechuh.

Promethean ee-hahshee-hoo 'Mdama eerayrah cheennshee. Wahrahtsuah uhtohkah nohkoh eekahtahtah rohkehmah.

Several species, including [[human]]s,<ref name="gl17">'''Halo: Glasslands''', ''page 17''</ref> [[Mgalekgolo]],<ref>'''Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn'''</ref> [[Unggoy]],<ref>'''Halo 4'''</ref> and [[Kig-Yar]]<ref>'''Halo: Mortal Dictata''' ''page 92''</ref> are able to speak Sangheili. Not all races can speak the same language due to evolutionary design restrictions; for example, the [[Yanme'e]] could only communicate through a cacophony of high-pitched clicks and screeches.<ref name="Contact">'''[[Halo: Contact Harvest]]''', ''page 311''</ref><ref name="ENC">'''[[Halo Encyclopedia (2009 edition)]]''', ''pages 148-149''</ref> To facilitate easier communications between member species, [[translation software]] is used on Covenant ships to decipher words.<ref>'''Halo: Broken Circle''', ''page 277'' (Google Play edition)</ref> During and after the [[Human-Covenant War]], several humans were able to understand Sangheili :

*[[Evan Phillips]]{{Ref/Reuse|gl17}}

*[[Luther Mann]]{{Ref/Reuse|hitd}}

File:H2 Wallpaper Master Chief and ODST.png|A ''Halo 2'' wallpaper with Covenant symbols.

File:H2 Wallpaper Tartarus and Brutes.png|A ''Halo 2'' wallpaper with Covenant symbols.

File:H2 Wallpaper Covenant translations.png|Translations of the two ''Halo 2'' wallpapers.

File:Halo 3 Sangheili Armor Symbol Patterns.png|The ''Halo 3'' campaign [[Combat harness|Sangheili combat harness]] triangle symbols.

File:Assembly glyphs.png|Glyph patterns that change one by one on [[Assembly]] in ''Halo 3''.

File:Package bomb countdown.png|Most of the known countdown of an [[antimatter charge]] in ''[[The Package (animated short)|The Package]]''.

File:Com_node_symbols.png|Triangle type seen on a [[Covenant communication node]] in ''Halo: Reach''.

File:Needle_Rifle_Zoom.png|Triangle type symbols found on the [[Gadulo-pattern needle rifle}}|needle rifle]] zoom.

File:Baricade_symbols.png|Triangle type symbols seen on a Covenant vehicle fuel storage unit in ''Halo: Reach''.

File:Dead Arbiter symbols.png|Casket for a dead [[Arbiter]] in ''[[Terminal (Halo 2: Anniversary)|Halo 2: Anniversary's Terminals]]''.  

File:Shade_Normal_Triangles.png|{{Pattern|Rizsheda|Shade}} symbols in ''Halo 5: Guardians''.

File:H5G The Sprint Covenant Font.png|Covenant Alphanumerical Forms

File:H4 Carbine numbers.png|Numbers 00 to 18 that appear on the {{Pattern|Mosa|carbine}} in ''Halo 4''.

File:HP Bumbed_Covenant_Alphabet.png|

File:H4FUD Covenant glyphs.png|Bumped triangle type used prior to the battle of Circinius IV in ''[[Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn]]''. From right to left written vertically: 7 Reclamation.  

==== Weapons and vehicles ====

File:Strom_Rifle_overheat.png|{{Pattern|Kelos'vaarda|storm rifle}} temperature symbol in ''Halo 4''.

File:Type-27 Beam rifle zoom.png|{{Pattern|Zubo|beam rifle}} zoom symbols in ''Halo 4''.

File:Fuel Rod Symbols.png|{{Pattern|Pez'tk|fuel rod gun}} zoom on off target and on target symbols in ''Halo 4''.

File:Lich Controls.png|{{Pattern|Kmiro'sish|Lich}} control panel with these symbols on it in ''Halo 4''.

File:H5G-FRCzoom-Campaign.png|{{Pattern|Gespu|fuel rod gun}} zoom symbols in ''Halo 5: Guardians''.

File:TempBatery.JPG|From left to right: temperature and energy/battery level/battery sigils. The temperature one can also be found upside down when zoomed.  

File:Covenantsigil.png|Covenant symbol found on weapon variants in ''Halo 5: Guardians''.

</gallery>

File:Elite_Commander_symbols_and_patterns.png|[[Commander (Covenant)|Commander]] symbols and patterns in ''Halo 4''.

These symbols are often borrowed or adapted from actual [[Forerunner symbols]] for use in speech, on [[Combat harness|Sangheili armor]], and even on Covenant technology.

File:HaloCE-PlasmaGrenade.png|Green {{Pattern|Anskum|plasma grenade}} symbol in ''Halo CE''.

File:Phantom_forerunner_symbol.png|Symbol that appears on the {{Pattern|Ru'swum|Phantom}} in ''Halo Reach''.

File:H2A Render PlasmaGrenade.png|Green {{Pattern|Anskum|plasma grenade}} symbol projecting the symbol for [[Installation 04]].

File:Ancient Sangheili vadam flags.png|Ancient Sangheili on [[House of 'Vadam|Vadam]] flags in the ''Halo 2: Anniversary Terminals''.

==Production notes==

 

The languages in their original form are heard in ''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]''. In ''Halo 2'', their words are translated for the convenience of the player. Elites in ''Halo: CE'' spoke a deep, warbling tongue. This was achieved by reversing the voice acting of [[David Scully]]. The ever-popular "Wort, wort, wort!" shouted by many Elites during gameplay is actually [[Sergeant Johnson]]’s famous "Go, go, go!" reversed and sped up.<ref name="gogogo">[http://forums.bungie.org/halo/archive5.pl?read=105659 EliteSpeak]</ref> The hissing-like language of the Jackals is actually the English language reversed. This, and the other Covenant languages ([[Yanme'e|Drones]], [[Mgalekgolo|Hunters]]), have remained the same since ''Halo 2''.

 

File:H4 CovenantTerminal Concept 1.jpg|Concept art of control panels with Sangheili symbols on it.

**''[[The Package (animated short)|The Package]]''

**''[[Terminal (Halo 4)|Terminals]]''

==Notes==

{{Ref/Notes}}

{{Ref/Sources|2}}